Washcloth-holder.



J. E. AUSTIN. WASHCLOTH HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED DEO.1.1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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,fmmesl/fwsh'w THE NORRIS PETERS Cn PHOrO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. 1. c

JAMES E. AUSTIN, 0F FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

WASHCLOTH-HOLDER.

Application filed December 1, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at- Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washcloth-Holdersand I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in wash cloth' holders and moreparticularly to those employing a detachable cloth or a plurality ofsuch cloths.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter so constructed as to make it readily attachable to anddetachable from a wash cloth or towel when the same is properly folded.

A secondary object is to simplify the structure of devices of thischaracter and yet not sacrifice any advantages.

IVith these objects in view, the invention resides in certain novelfeatures of construction and combination as described and claimedherein, and as shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view ofmy improved wash cloth holder showing the device expanded and with thecloth removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the holder contractedand the cloth in place. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line ll of Fig. 2 showing theposition of the cloth when the arms of the holder are expanded; and Fig.5 is an end view showing the arms retracted and the cloth secured inplace.

In the drawings I have shown my wash cloth holder as formed of a singlepiece of wire 1 bent upon itself at 2 to form a handle 3, the free endsthen extending forwardly and diverging to form flexible arms 4 and 5.The arm 5 is straight throughout the major part of its length and hasits end bent at right angles as at 6 and then bent a second time as at 7to form a cloth engaging finger 8, the terminal of which is formed intoan eye 9. The other arm 4 is substantially straight for a portion of itslength and is Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1 7, 1914. Serial No. 804,072.

then bent to form a hook 10. It is then continued as at 11 to a pointjust inside the angular offset 6 of the member 5 where it is bent toform another book 12. From this hook 12 it extends outwardly as at 13and is then bent rearwardly as at 14 to form a second cloth retainingfinger 15 which is preferalbly provided with an eye 16 at its outer enc.

When the arms 1 and 5 are expanded as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, a towel orcloth C may be applied to the holder in the following manner: The clothC is first folded longitudinally to produce a strip of the proper lengthand width. This strip of cloth is then folded transversely upon itselfas at 17 and the finger 8 engaged within the fold, and one free end 18of the strip is then extended laterally and looped around the outer endof the arm 5, is then brought back over the fold 17 and lies next to theother free end 19. The two ends 18 and 19 are then folded around thefinger 15 and the portion 11. of the arm 4 and have their terminalsturned inwardly as at 20. The arm 5 is then sprung over the hooks 10 and12 and in so doing the portion of the cloth C lying between the twoarms, is securely clamped between them.

Various changes in the form and proportions and minor features ofconstruction may be made under the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention A wash cloth holder formed of a single piece ofwire bent upon itself to form a handle, the free ends of said wirediverging forwardly and being bent upon themselves to form clothengaging fingers, said fingers having their terminals bent into clothretaining eyes, and one of said forwardly diverging arms being providedwith integral hooks for holding said forwardly diverging arms in aretracted position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing w1tnesses.

JAMES E. AUSTIN. lVitnesses:

S. L. WILEY, WVM. Rown.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

